Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-22
| MENAGERIE BURNED.
The Animals Quarters Of Barnum's
Circus, at Bridgeport, Conn.,,
Destroyed by Fire
WHOLESALE BURNING OF ANNALS.
The Two White Elepants Perish in the
Flames-All the Cat Species AMI
mails Burned.
The Waterman Knocked SenSeleSS by thu
IncendiarianS-A Bungled Fire
Alarm-Indiana Forest Fires.

NEW HANEN, NOV. @I-1He anIIldlo
quarters of Barnum's circus at Bridge
port, were burned to the ground last
night One Of the watchmen, George NJ.
Movers, was making his rounds about 10
o'clock, when he discovered flames in one
corner Of the building where the horses
are kept. He rushed around the building
TO warn employees, when he was knocked
senseless by some one with a club. He lay
on the ground unconscious for twenty
minutes, and when he revived, half Of the
building was in flames. He awakened the
sleepers in the building and some rushed
to an alarm box half a mile away and
pulled it neglecting to sound the alarm.
for the box located at the entrance to the
grounds, this caused a delay OF half an
hour in the arrival of the department
When it did come it could do
nothing bat save ad jacent buildings.
In the mean time twenty-eight elephants
were turned loose: the white elephants
Sampson and Alice, were destroyed. The
other elephants rushed about the city and
one fell on a man breaking three of his
ribs and one leg The Old lion used on top
of the cage in the procession was hauled
ouJ VI lllS littIllCS ny HIS hCNl'Ct w III. Jun
eley. As soon as he was out of the build
ing the crowd attempted to Kill him by
beating his head with clubs and firing
shots into him from reyOlverS. lie was
secured and placed in pen, but broke out
and scaling ten foot fence took refuge in
a barn where he killed a cow. He was
shot while brea fdasting. Eight men who
were sleeping in the building barely es
capped with their lives and one who was
sick SvaS dragged off his bed and out into
the air At IL o'clock. most Of the ele-
plants had been cOrralled A rhinOscer0S
was got cut OF the building but was burned
and cut both by getting out of the cage
and by the crowd that seemed determined
TO kill all animals which came out of the
building. Only the cat animals We're
burned The monkeys and others were in
other buildings. Many of the idols which
are exhibited with the show were burned.
The cries of the burning animals were
heard. Through the flames could be seen
the tigers, Ieopards and other cat animals
dashing frantically about their cages and
finally succumbing to the smoke and
flames. The elephants rushed madly about
the streets, IaShIng their burned and torn
sides with their trunks and scattering the
crowds in all directions 1t is reported
tnat several men were picked up and
thrown over fences and more or less in
jdrad. The birds were in New York city
at Central park. In the paint shop were
many of the handsome chari0tS undergo
ing repairs. These were taken out as fast
as possible bat not without injury. At II
o'clock. what two hours before was the
home of some of the wonders of the earth
lay heap of smoulderng rains, from
which ascend the odOr Of burning flesh.
The iron cages twisted in all ways and still
tncandescent stood out prominently among
the ruins against the dark background OF
night.
Among the animals destroyed were four
Elephants five lions, seven lCOpards, six
pGnthers, four kangaroos. six horses, and n
large number Of smaller beasts. Mr. Bal
ley said this morning that 100000 would
probably cover the loss. The lost animals
and the paraphernalia destroyed would be
replaced as soon as possible and that Lass
nights fire would not interfere with next
seasons show. The insurance placed
through Staples & Co, on the building and
property burned, is as follows: Building,
81, lbs; animals, $4,000 OF the latter
amounts s. 800 was on the elephants barr
ed; =. 33o on a hippoporamus. The build
ing will be rebuilt as soon as possible.